Consumers Energy says electricity may not be back on until Friday for some customers in Southwest Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS — About 117,000 Consumers Energy customers in Michigan, including more than 46,000 in Kalamazoo County alone, remained without electric service as of 4 p.m., and some may not get service back until Friday, the utility said.

"A majority of customers without electric service are expected to be restored by late Thursday evening. Customers in the hardest-hit counties, including Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, Lenawee and Monroe, may not received electric service until Friday," Consumers said in a news release.

Since the winter storm that began Sunday, dropping rain, freezing rain and snow on Michigan, more than 151,000 Consumers Energy customers have been affected by weather-related outages, the utility said.

Westminister Presbyterian Church in Portage will serve as an emergency shelter tonight for people who have lost power. The church was scheduled to open at 5 p.m. and will have 87 cots for people to sleep on overnight, said Jeannie Byrne, Kalamazoo County's emergency preparedness coordinator. The church is located at 1515 Helen St. off Portage Road near the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport.